Air India flight AI021 had to land in emergency in New Delhi, after rats were found running around the cabin, on the evening of August 4.
The Airbus A-321 was on its way from Calcutta to New Delhi when the crew members discovered ‘scores’ of rats in the cabin. The plane safely landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi after which, the passengers were evacuated and the aircraft was grounded for pest control treatment and fumigation.
According to a senior commander, “Rats on board an aircraft can lead to a catastrophe if they start chewing up electric wires of a fly by wire plane…If that happens, pilots will have no control on any system on board leading to a disaster.”
However, an Air India officer was reported saying that the rat infestation is ‘common’ in planes worldwide as the rodents could ‘get in anywhere.’ “They follow the catering vans into the plane when they smell the food,” he said.
TUI Airways flight BY-174 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Gatwick Airport, England, on March 1st.
Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-353 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Multan, Pakistan, on May 23rd.
CommutAir flight C5-4979 had to return and make an emergency landing at Washington Dulles International Airport, Virginia, on July 26th.
TAP Air Portugal flight TP-1739 suffered a bird strike in Porto Santo, Portugal, on April 6th.
Delta Airlines flight DL-8957 was intercepted by two Greek F-16 fighter aircrafts on May 19th.